Press Releases

For Immediate Release

New Carpooler Hits the $1,000 Jackpot

Contact: Susan Gluss, 511 Rideshare 510.273.3650

Oakland, CA — January 30, 2007… 511 Rideshare today announced the grand prize winner of $1,000 in gas cards for its carpool program, “Rideshare Rewards.”  A 34-year assembly-line worker and mother of two, Pauline Nguyen, won the prize in a random drawing of program participants. 

Launched last May 2006, Rideshare Rewards awarded up to $100 in free gas or Safeway gift cards to solo drivers who switched to carpooling.  Participants who carpooled 40 days or more during a 90-day period were eligible to enter the grand prize drawing.

Nguyen, who commutes from San Jose to a high-tech firm in Sunnyvale, carpooled 63 days during a 3-month period, and earned $100 in gas cards.  She was “jumping up and down” with excitement after she heard that she’d also won $1,000 in gas cards, according to her supervisor, Amy Ku. 

Nguyen says it typically costs about $45 dollars a week to fill up her 1998 Toyota, but she saves more than half that by carpooling with two colleagues.  Add the $1,000 grand prize and she figures she may not have to buy gas for a year — a big help for her young family. 

Rideshare Rewards 2006 successfully enrolled 650 new carpoolers, and, due to popularity and demand, the program will resume again in March 2007.

Commuters who want to find a carpool partner can go to the Rideshare page at 511.org and click the RideMatch button to sign up for a free list of commuters who want to share rides to work.  Or call 511 and say “Rideshare” to speak with a commuter consultant. 

About 511 Rideshare 

The 511 Regional Rideshare Program is a free service funded by the Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District and county congestion management agencies. It helps commuters find other drivers to carpool or vanpool to work. Qualifying carpools can cross Bay Area toll bridges for free during commute hours and may qualify for additional financial incentives or subsidies. For more information, visit the Rideshare page at 511.org.

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